Wednesday. That day in the middle between weekends!! See where we’re going here?
The perfect day to share books for tweens, aka the middle-grade audience. The weekly collection will include selections from the Middle-Grade Fiction, Middle-Grade Nonfiction, Elementary/Middle-Grade Graphic Novel, and Elementary/Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction, and Poetry categories.
Book summaries from Goodreads. Click the book cover to view the full summary and add the book to your TBR shelves.
MIDDLE-GRADE FICTION
It’s 1948, and twelve-year-old Nick is ready for the best summer ever. He’s going to hang out with his best pal, Ace, and maybe with Penny too—she is a girl, but she has a great throwing arm! But Nick’s grand plans start to crumble when Ace gets a paper route and Penny decides to share it with him. Now they’re never around. Nick himself is working at his Uncle Spiro’s frozen custard shop. hen things get wild when a polar bear escapes from Milwaukee’s city zoo and appears right on his block. They’re all going to have to keep their eyes open now.
Mark @ Goodreads – The book is set in 1948 and the events and language reflect that time in history. The plot lacks any high drama or tension which may not appeal to some readers. The book tells a nostalgic tale of middle-grade kids trying to enjoy their summer while helping Uncle Spiro through his challenges. The simple story is easy to follow and the blend of humor adds to its appeal. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot.
MIDDLE-GRADE NONFICTION
Trash has always been part of human societies. Why is it the inevitable end to the process of making and using thing?
In this fascinating account of the waste we make, we'll wade into the muck of history and explore present-day STEM innovations to deal with garbage.
Tiffany @ Goodreads – I’ve always been fascinated by waste- where does it go? how can we cut down on it? what more could we do to have a positive impact on the environment without completely changing everything in our lives? Often people think “out of sight, out of mind” but the issue of trash and waste doesn’t just go away when we toss it into the trash can. Written in a way that middle and high schoolers could easily understand the history of waste and ways they could help change things for the better. Recycling, reducing and reusing are just some of the ways we can make the world a better place for us all.
MIDDLE-GRADE GRAPHIC NOVEL
Thousands of years ago, in a time of rebellion, the Jewish people fought against their Roman rulers. The brutal Emperor Titus ordered the destruction of everything precious to the towns, villages, even their beloved Judean date palm trees. Centuries passed. Then, in 1963, a team of archaeologists uncovered two-thousand-year-old date palm seeds at the ruined fortress of Masada. For another forty years the seeds waited—until 2004, when Israeli scientist Dr. Sarah Sallon had a big, courageous idea. What if those ancient seeds could bring the Judean date palm back to life?
Anne @ Goodreads – Throughout history humans have destroyed other cultures. I am not surprised that Judean Date Palm Trees were destroyed, but I am happy to know that something has survived. The hope and the work that has lived to bring back these trees is incredible. I will share this with many readers.
MIDDLE-GRADE SPECULATIVE FICTION
Poppy Woodlock believes in magic, but so far, she hasn’t found any. It’s been two weeks since her parents moved their family to Oregon to undertake their biggest project revitalizing the once-grand Lark-Hayes Manor. Her older brother instantly found his place, but after being thrown into middle school midyear, Poppy is feeling…invisible. So she retreats to where she’s always felt most at books and magic. And if the fantastic and supernatural exist, certainly they can be found in this mysterious old estate. A late-night prowl leads Poppy to a desperate water nymph, with whom she strikes a dangerous bargain. In exchange for the thing she loves most—her favorite book— Poppy now has the secret of a her very own flying lion. But the cost of ancient magic is astronomic. With every night Sampson grows, another book disappears, and Poppy soon faces the harrowing reality that without their favorite stories, the lives of everyone around her begin to unravel.
Kristen @ Goodreads – Such a beautiful book about how stories and books really do change us as a person. I loved how this story unfolded and how books and stories were there at every turn. I love how her family was there for her, even her older brother and her had a decent relationship. I loved all the characters and really fell for the magic of this story.
Amy @ Goodreads – “Charming” is the perfect word for this book. There are lovable characters, strong themes, abounding literary references, and intriguing magic.
POETRY – NOVEL IN VERSE
Selah knows her rules for being normal. She always, always sticks to them. Until the day she explodes and hits a fellow student.
Selah's friends pull away from her, her school threatens expulsion, and her comfortable, familiar world starts to crumble.
But as Selah starts to figure out more about who she is, she comes to understand that different doesn’t mean damaged. Can she get her school to understand that, too, before it’s too late?
Cindy on behalf of Kiss the Book, review by Lisa Librarian – Good Different is a beautifully written novel in verse, I highlighted so many passages! Selah has a kind and perceptive English teacher, a best friend who doesn’t understand, and a grandfather who knows just what she’s going through. I loved that she found ways to express herself that felt safer than talking. I would hope schools today are quicker to identify neurodiversity in kids than Selah’s was, she only needed a few simple accommodations. Includes an author’s note as well as resources for autistic folks, a list of books by autistic authors, and helpful resources for educators.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction – Good Different is a poignant novel in verse about a girl who learns to advocate for herself and finally let go of her quest to be “normal.” Seeing the world through Selah’s eyes will be enlightening for a lot of kids but will also feel eerily familiar to many neurodivergent readers; the first-person verse is particularly effective at showing us how Selah feels when the world gets overwhelming. It’s an eye-opening portrayal of neurodivergence that will help kids see that there is beauty in our differences.